By Rahul Banerji
Kolkata-born Rahil Gangjee and Ahmedabad-based Om Prakash Chouhan held the clubhouse lead on 5 under par 139 after day two of the SSP Chawrasia Invitational at Royal Calcutta Golf Club on Friday.
While Tata Steel PGTI Ranking leader Chouhan posted a 69, Rahil signed for a 70 as players enjoyed some balmy weather as the rain stayed away and there were no interruptions during play.
Earlier in the day, the rain-interrupted first round was completed with Gangjee holding the sole lead on 3 under 69 while Chouhan was second on 70.
The consequently-delayed round two also could not be completed and from a field of 122, only 59 were able to put 36 holes on the card before fading light stopped proceedings in the evening, the PGTI said.
Chouhan (70-69) was off to a flying start from the back nine in round two with 10 to 15 feet conversions for birdie and eagle on the 13th and 15th holes respectively.
Chouhan, who hails from Mhow in Madhya Pradesh, missed a short putt to bogey 18 but recovered with a birdie soon after the turn.
Light and shade
The pattern continued as he dropped two more shots but immediately made up for the damage with as many birdies, one with a 20-foot putt and the other when he chipped in.
OP, as he is popularly known, said, “Yesterday it was quite wet and windy so one had to play conservatively. Today it’s been clear so overall the conditions were easier especially when hitting out of the rough.
“My chipping has been one of the highlights of my game recently and that continued today. I’m chipping with a lot of confidence and have made so many chip-ins of late.
“Importantly, I came back well every time I dropped a shot today. With the rain staying away, the weather’s just perfect for golf now.”
Gangjee (69-70), originally from Kolkata but now settled in Bangalore, was on song on the back nine in round two as he collected four birdies, two from long conversions.
Hampered subsequently by discomfort in his right calf, Gangjee had a contrasting front nine where he dropped two shots.
Calf handicap
Gangjee said later, “I was feeling good on the back nine with that run of birdies but a niggling pain in my right calf just got worse as I walked and it got pretty bad after I completed nine holes.
“Therefore, I was quite distracted and not flowing properly from there on and as a result I did not have a good front nine.
“After the rain yesterday, calculating the correct yardage also got very tricky since the air is heavier. It’s quite comforting to come back to Kolkata, my original home.
“I’ve not been playing my best for a long time, so this trip to Kolkata will hopefully do my confidence some good. I hope it revives the good memories.”
Bangalore’s Syed Saqib Ahmed (74-67) was third in the clubhouse on 3-under 141.
Among those with unfinished second rounds, overnight joint leaders Divyanshu Bajaj and Abhinav Lohan were 1 under through 12 holes while defending champion Manu Gandas was level par after nine holes.
Tournament host Shiv Shankar Prasad Chawrasia was 5 over through nine holes.
Also read: Bajaj, Lohan share clubhouse lead on rain-hit first day at RCGC
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